Celebrating Academic Excellence: Meet NHA’s 2026 Valedictorians

London Brazil

NHA School: Westfield Preparatory High School

Post-Secondary Plans: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Biology

Quote: “High school was a mix of stress, memories, deadlines, friendships, and figuring out who we are, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.”

Josué Pineda

NHA School: Wellspring Preparatory High School

Post-Secondary Plans: Covenant College

Major: Computer Science & Music

Quote: “My father once told me, ‘al tiempo nadie le roba’, no one can steal from time. If you try to do so, time will get back to you, whether with consequences or by making you use the time for its original intended purpose. Make 40-year-old you proud of the choices you make today.”

Joshua Littlejohn

NHA School: Phoenix Academy

Post-Secondary Plans: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Major: Biology

Quote: “I wasn’t the smartest kid in class; I couldn't give you the correct answer at the snap of my fingers, I’ve failed tests, got bad grades, I’ve faced errors I didn't think a stereotypical valedictorian would. Yet, I realized that no human is perfect, and no human is going to be at their best 100% of the time. A valedictorian isn’t just the ‘smartest’ kid in the class, but a representation of hard work, dedication, and consistency over just innate intelligence.”

Buutho Nguyen

NHA School: Grand River Preparatory High School

Post-Secondary Plans: Michigan State University

Major: Chemical Engineering

Quote: “Daniel Caesar once said, ‘It’s never over, until life ends’. Over these past four years, many of us have learned what that really means. There were moments when we doubted ourselves, moments when we failed, and moments when it felt easier to give up than to keep going. But no matter what challenges we faced, we pushed through. And looking around this room today, that says something powerful about all of us.”

Janea Gordon

NHA School: Arbor Preparatory High School

Post-Secondary Plans: University of Michigan

Quote: “Do not strive for perfection but strive to make yourself proud.”
 

Karizma Toliver

NHA School: Center Line Preparatory Academy

Post-Secondary Plans: Central Michigan University

Major: English, Major; Creative Writing, Minor

Quote: “Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear. For a long time, I let fear make my decisions for me. I called it being careful, but really, it was control—fear deciding what I try, what I avoid, and what isn’t worth it. College was one of those things I almost said no to, not because I couldn’t do it, but because I was afraid of what could go wrong. The biggest lie fear will ever tell you is, 'I’m protecting you.' The truth is, it’s only limiting you. And if I kept letting it lead, I wouldn’t just be holding myself back—I’d be holding back what I could give to the people around me. Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear. To the Class of 2026, there will be hundreds of obstacles standing in your way, don’t let fear be one of them.”

Gabriella Foster

NHA School: Oakside Prep Academy

Post-Secondary Plans: Rochester University

Major: Art

Quote: "I'll leave you with a thought: A door is an exit if you're looking back; if you're looking forward, it's a new beginning. Let's walk through this beginning together."

Kor Meyer

NHA School: Canton Preparatory High School

Post-Secondary Plans: Wayne State University

Major: World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures with a concentration in Spanish; Minor in Linguistics

Quote: “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” —Bruce Lee

Julia Acker

NHA School: PrepNet Virtual Academy

Post-Secondary Plans: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Major: Computer Science

Quote: “My high school experience definitely wasn’t how people envision high school, but I think it worked for me. There were some challenges, but now I’m graduating with a high school diploma and associates degree, so I think it was all worth it.”

Emmanuella Bokan

NHA School: Taylor Preparatory High School

Post-Secondary Plans: Rochester Institute of Technology or University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Major: Undecided

Quote: “Our names carry stories, identities, and histories that are uniquely our own, yet so often they are mispronounced, shortened, or overlooked before people take the time to truly know us.”